Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Tales of Crimson Nights ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! Oh, and I don't own Shakespeare either...or any of his plays and stuff.

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We soon arrived at the village, heading straight for a well-known tavern in town Marik and I usually visited. We both hopped off our horses, tying them up tightly to a pole outside.

"Come on, climb down slowly." I explained to a troubled Ryou. I held out my arms to him. "It's okay, I won't let you fall." Ryou looked at me, uncertainty shining in his eyes, before sliding off Diamond slowly. "There. See? You did fine." I praised as I helped him land on the ground softly, my hands around his waist. He blushed faintly, and I had to hold back a snicker at his shyness.

"Thank you."

"No trouble at all. Now come on, let's get you two something to eat." I turned around to find Marik already heading inside, Malik in tow. I shook my head angrily. "He's so impatient. Ah, never mind, let's go." I grabbed onto Ryou's hand, noticing how he blushed once again at the contact, before dragging him inside the dim lit tavern.

"Bakura! Over here!" Marik waved to us, and I waved back before heading over to the table he had managed to grab. The place was packed with drunkards and whores that offered themselves to anyone who wanted them, and I cringed at the constant smell of cigarette smoke.

"Maybe we should find someplace else." I muttered, shooting a glance at Ryou and Malik who huddled together across from us, eyeing the bar nervously. Marik shrugged in a non-caring way before waving over a waitress.

"What would you two like?" Marik asked, looking at the boys expectantly. Both stared up at him in confusion, and I felt sorrow flow through me when I realized that they have probably never even heard of some of the foods served here.

"How about we get you some soup? And some bread." I suggested, and the two just nodded in a compliant way. I relayed the message to the waitress who hurriedly ran to the back to get what we ordered.

Most people around here knew about Marik and I. They didn't know we were vampires of course, just that we were unnaturally strong, and didn't tolerate rude behavior towards us.

"So, Malik." Marik rested his chin in his hands and stared at the blond haired boy carefully. "Would you object to going to a swordfight competition with me?" Malik looked back at him nervously before glancing at Ryou.

"Where's Ryou going?"

"I'll be taking him out to see Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet play." I said, smiling when Ryou's eyes widened in surprise before sparkling with excitement.

"Somehow, I get the impression that you wouldn't like going to a boring old play, so, would you mind going with me to something more exciting?" Marik asked again. Malik looked between Ryou and Marik, not sure what to do. I could feel that he really didn't want to go to a play, but he really didn't want to leave Ryou and go with Marik either.

"I'm sure you'll have lots of fun if you go with Marik." I grinned. "There's never a dull moment with him. And I swear I'll take very good care of Ryou. Promise." Malik once again looked hesitant, before Ryou tugged on his sleeve, leaning up to whisper into the other's ear. I, of course, could have heard every word if I wanted to, but for some reason prevented myself from eavesdropping. Marik had done the same.

"All right. I'll go with you." Malik sighed, and Marik broke out into a huge grin.

"You won't regret it! It'll be a great adventure! Bakura's no fun anymore." Marik pouted. "I guess he's just too old to do anything fun nowadays."

"Too old? Marik! You're a few years older than me!"

"So? That doesn't mean a thing. At least I don't act like I'm an ancient old fossil."

"Ooh, you're so frustrating!" I moaned, placing my head in my hands before smiling affectionately at him. He winked back, causing me to chuckle at his childish attitude. Suddenly, someone pounded on our table, shaking it and making the two boys jump in surprise. I looked over and saw, with distaste, that a drunkard had made his way over to us.

"Ows mutch fo' da two boyzzz?"(Translation: How much for the two boys? I can't do drunkard imitations -_-, sorry..) He slurred, pointing at a now quivering Ryou and Malik. I glowered at him.

"They're not for sale."

"Oooooh, com' onz! Dey arrr vewy pwettttty!" (Oh, come on! They're very pretty.) He reached a large, greasy hand over to palm Ryou's face, the boy cringing away from it and practically curling into Malik's arms in fright. "Whaa abou' dis one?" I snarled, and snatched onto his hand before he could touch him.

"Do. Not. Touch. Him." I growled menacingly, my hand squeezing his with the force to crush his frail mortal bones. I could practically feel my eyes blazing in madness. Nobody touched what was mine.

"Jusssta nigh?" He leaned over with his other hand to try to grab at Ryou's thigh. The teen whimpered and scooted back. He didn't seem to give up, and I gripped his hand tighter, feeling the bones snap underneath my fingers. The man yelped and pulled away from Ryou abruptly, face scrunching in pain.

"Bakura." I looked over my shoulder at Marik. "Don't do anything stupid." He warned, and it was then I noticed almost everyone in the bar was looking at us. I sneered in disgust and pushed the man away from the table roughly, watching as he fell to the floor, passed out. I glared around the tavern threateningly.

"Well? What are you staring at?" Immediately everyone went back to what they were doing before, staying away from our table as far as possible. I sighed, crossing my arms and leaning back into my chair. I looked over at Ryou, showing slight concern. I didn't want to look worried in such a public place. It would ruin my reputation. "Are you alright?"

"Y-Yes." Ryou stuttered, still curled up to a pale looking Malik's chest, the blond calmly petting the other's locks, though you could tell he had been frightened terribly. "Thank you so much...I-."

"Hn. Don't worry about it." I waved him off, smiling. "As long as Marik and I are here, nobody will touch you." I was surprised when Ryou and Malik's eyes began to water.

"What's the matter?" Marik asked, confused. He reached a hand out to wipe away Malik's tears.

"Y-You don't know how relieved we are to hear that." Malik breathed deeply, trying to calm himself down. My eyes softened. What had these youths gone through to make them so frightened? "You promise?"

"Of course." Marik and I both said at the same time, snickering at each other.

"You may still just be slaves, but you're humans too. We'd never sell you off or anything of the sort." I promised.

"Yes, it disgusts us that people would actually do that." Marik curled his lips in distaste at the idea.

"Thank you..." Ryou muttered, and I shook my head at him, smiling.

"It's okay, as I've said before. Really, there is no need to thank us."

"E-Excuse me?" All of us looked up upon hearing a new voice; seeing that it was the waitress and that she had our orders. She bowed her head and left quickly once she set everything down, and Marik chuckled.

"What?" I frowned.

"She's terrified of you." Marik giggled, and I snorted.

"So? Everyone here's afraid of us."

"I know, but it's just so amusing." I sighed, and looked over at Ryou and Malik. They were looking at their food nervously.

"Go ahead and eat as much as you want." I urged.

"Aren't you going to have anything?" Ryou asked quietly, fidgeting nervously with his hands.

"No, Marik and I don't need to eat regular food." I began to slice up the loaf of bread we ordered, and handed them some slices. "Here. Eat." The two boys obeyed and lifted up spoonfuls of their soup, eyeing one another uneasily before swallowing it. Their eyes lit up in surprise, and they hurriedly began to eat, shoveling down as much as they could fit in their mouths.

"Hn. They sure were hungry, weren't they?" Marik said, turning to look at me.

"Yes. But, how can you expect any less? I mean, look at them, they're emaciated..."

"I know." Marik nodded, face serious. He began speaking in a lower voice; so the slaves wouldn't hear our conversation. "I wonder though..." I looked at him curiously. "I wonder about the scars on Malik's back, and how he got them."

"I was curious about the same thing." I admitted.

"Also, I'm interested in why they're so panicky when someone touches them. Have you noticed that?"

"Yes. I have." I nodded my head, troubled. "Do you think they were..."

"They're not old enough to be used like that." Marik grimaced. "But that doesn't always stop people." I turned sympathetic eyes to the young boys in front of me. I sensed nothing but innocence and purity from them, and to think someone might have done such a horrible thing to them appalled me.

"I pray that nothing like that had ever happened to them."

"As do I." Marik agreed. We were silent, each of us sorting out our own thoughts.

"You like Ryou a lot, don't you?" Marik smirked, and I jumped, almost falling out of my chair at the frank statement.

"W-Well, you do have to admit he's absolutely beautiful." I confessed guiltily. I looked at my lover. "Are you upset?" I knew that sometimes Marik could get very jealous, even though it seemed that he was the one always looking at other people.

"Not at all." Marik shrugged. "He is very beautiful. What do you think of Malik?"

"He's just as stunning." I said, feeling my pale complexion light up in a blush. "Why ask me this?" Marik smirked at me, and I suddenly felt very vulnerable.

"Just curious."

"Hn. Yeah right." I laughed, somewhat nervously. What did he have planned?

"Well! I see that you're finished." Marik said in a normal voice, speaking to the two teens. I turned, and noticed with a start that indeed, they had finished most of their meal. "Let's head off then." He reached into his pockets and dropped some coins on the table as payment. He reached over and, surprisingly, dragged Ryou out instead of Malik. I blinked.

"I'll never understand him sometimes." I muttered to myself. I turned to Malik, taking his hand in mine and heading towards the door. "Come on, hopefully he didn't gallop off to some random place."

"Um..." Malik opened his mouth to speak, before shutting it hastily, but I noticed and paused, turning to look at him.

"Something wrong?" I asked. He furrowed his brows and looked at the ground, shuffling his feet.

"Will you swear not to let Ryou get hurt?" He asked boldly, suddenly staring at me eye to eye. His bravery made me smile and I held out my hand.

"I swear I won't let any harm come to Ryou." He looked at my hand, faltering for a moment before gripping it in his own in a firm handshake. "Now, let's head off to find my lunkhead of a lover." I said, walking outside.

"I heard that!" Marik pouted, already sitting on Jasmine. He was wearing a black cloak that covered most of his face and body, and was holding another in his hands. "Here, put this on." He threw the robe at Malik who looked at it with confusion.

"Just slip it over your clothes. It's so people won't recognize you." I said, sighing. "This means that he's got something big planned." Marik shot me a bright grin; pulling Malik up on Jasmine with one arm once the boy finished donning his new look.

"Hold on." He said before galloping off down the road, waving back at me. I raised my hand in answer and turned to Ryou, who was sitting next to my horse dutifully.

"Well, we'd better get going if we're going to make the performance." I said, walking over to Ryou and picking him up, hearing him squeak in surprise. I lifted him on Diamond carefully, telling him to hold onto the saddle before I jumped onto the horse myself. Ryou, like before, curled in front of me, clutching on to my shirt, his knees up to his chest and head peering out cautiously. I laughed at his cuteness, before riding off down the street to the building where the play was being performed.

We arrived early, with a few minutes to spare. I bought two tickets and I held onto Ryou's hand tightly.

"Keep hold of my hand." I advised. "Even though this is a night performance, there are still a lot of people." Ryou nodded his head nervously, and clutched onto my hand. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, noticing just how curious he was about everything. It made me smile; he was like a kitten...

"Ladies and gentlemen!" A voice called out, and I jumped.

"The show's about to begin!" I exclaimed, racing down the hallway. "I got us a private room to watch it in, come on!" Ryou followed behind me closely, and we arrived in no time, filing into the cozy looking room.

There were two comfortable cushioned chairs at the end of the balcony, looking out onto the stage where the play was beginning to perform. We each sat down, him hesitating when he first saw the expensive looking chair, and waited for the tale to begin. Sure enough, the man walked onstage to recite the prologue.

"Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean..."

I glanced over at Ryou, only to see him paying rapt attention to the stage. His eyes were glowing with animation and he was practically falling out of his chair from leaning forward so much.

"From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

A pair of star-crost lovers take their life;

Whos misadventured piteous overthrows

Doth with their death bury their parents' strife."

"If you lean ahead any further, you'll fall off." I chuckled, watching as the boy blushed and sat more politely in the chair, still listening to the speaker onstage.

"The fearful passage of their death-mark's love,

And the continuance of their parents' rage,

Which, but their children's end, naught could remove,"

Ryou's eyes widened more, and he turned his beautiful brown eyes to me, and I could see just exactly how much this meant to him. He whispered another thank you to me, and turned his attention back to what was making him so filled with joy. I smiled.

"Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;

The which if you with patient ears attend,

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend."

After staring at the glorious angel next to me for a few moments longer, I turned back to the play myself. Sure, I had seen it countless times, and knew some of the passages by heart, but it was always amusing to watch the different actors and actresses each time the show was rehearsed.

Act 1. Scene 1.

Gregory: o' my word, we'll not carry coals...

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A hour and a half later...
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Act 3. Scene 5

Juliet: Ancient Damnation! O most cursed fiend!

Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn,

Or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue

Which she hath praised him with above compare

So many thousand times? - Go, counsellor;

Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain. -

I'll to the friar, to know his remedy:

If all else fail, myself have power to die.

I blinked my eyes heavily as the scene faded out, and a short, stubby man walked onstage, announcing the intermission time. I heard a deep intake of breath next to me, and saw that the teen looked as if he hadn't blinked the entire first half of the performance.

"How do you like it so far?" I asked, stretching my hands in the air, even though I really didn't need to.

"It's, it's amazing!" Ryou breathed, looking at me dreamily. "Beyond anything that I dreamed it would be like!" I chuckled slightly.

"You're starting to sound a lot like Juliet." Ryou blushed and ducked his head embarrassedly.

"I can't thank you enough..." He said softly, but I interrupted him by holding out my hand.

"Seeing you smile like that is enough payment for a thousand plays." I smiled, reaching over to tuck a lock of hair behind his ear. Surprisingly enough, he didn't flinch from my touch, but instead let out a soft mewl, making me blink in surprise. I opened my mouth to ask him something, but was interrupted by a loud pounding at the back of the door. I frowned curiously. This was a private balcony box, why would someone be knocking at the door?

"Bakura! Open up! Quick!"

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